Substance Abuse In America

Substance abuse is an extremely dangerous issue that affects every one in ten Americans. Not only is this statistic frightening, it alludes to the fact that somebody you know may be addicted to drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication. Substance abuse can lead to the loss of a job, create mental illnesses, and in some extreme cases, cause death. These addictions can have a huge emotional and physical toll on a person. Now with about 19.9 million Americans admitting to some form of substance abuse, this problem has become a widespread issue that needs to be addressed. These are everyday people that need help, whether they realize it or not. Substance abuse and addiction can quickly overwhelm you in your personal life, as well as your workspace, as proven by the fact that there is a high number of unemployment due to the use of drug testing and breathalyzers. A recent study by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drugs Dependence revealed that about seventy percent of the 14.8 million Americans who are abusing illegal drugs are employed, and that the number of people abusing in the workplace is steadily increasing. With the growth of substance abuse and unemployment, company’s profits and productivity can …show more content…
While some abusers attempt to get help, others do not see the error of their ways and their life comes to an end. Since the year 2000, substance related deaths have doubled, not only is this fact worrisome, it shows that abuse is on the rise. About one in four deaths can be connected to substance abuse of some kind. Drunk driving, overdose, suicide, these are all often connected to abuse of drugs or alcohol. Not only have deaths increased, but the spread of deadly diseases has as well. Sharing needles or reusing old needles can easily spread HIV or hepatitis, not only does this increase the chance of death, it makes the person’s life even more